Toenail Fungus Home Remedies -- Tips On Prevention And Treatment

Toenail Fungus Home Remedies -- Tips On Prevention And Treatment

Toenail fungus is difficult to cure and affects almost half the population by the age of 70. Two factors are behind these statistics; toes spend a lot of time enclosed in shoes, and older people develop poor blood circulation in their feet making them prone to infection, especially when they have diabetes. Many people prefer to use toenail fungus home remedies rather than medical treatment because it can take six months to complete. The major risk in this is that people might stop the treatment too early on, when the infection appears to improve but is still present. This results in its re-occurrence.

These fungi live off the keratin of the nail. People might not notice the problem because the condition is not initially painful. Eventually, the toenails become ugly; yellow or brown, thicker, crumbly-textured and produce foul smelling waste. The nails can become painful, nail damage can be irreversible and opportunistic infections can take advantage of weak immune systems and spread elsewhere.

Fungal organisms prefer warmth and moisture. They commonly thrive around public places where people go barefoot; swimming pools and showers. Highly contagious, fungi can penetrate microscopic cuts and nestle between the nail and nail-bed. Fungal infections develop only in ideal conditions; warmth and moisture on an ongoing basis. Once someone is infected the rest of their family will probably also catch it.

Because prevention is better than cure, here are prevention tips. After daily bathing, ensure that feet are thoroughly dried and apply anti-fungal foot powder. Shoes and socks keep feet warm, moist and dark -- ideal for fungi -- so wear different shoes as often as possible and let them dry out completely. Give your feel a chance to 'breathe' in the open air. Wear sandals when possible. Choose natural fiber or cotton socks and change them daily. To prevent contagion, wash your hands after you have touched a nail that is infected. To avoid providing access to germs, do not pick at your nails or the surrounding area. Avoid going barefoot at public pools, showers and other public places. Avoid trapping moisture in the nails by keeping your nails bare instead of using synthetic nails or nail varnish to hide a nail infection.

Apple-cider vinegar and tea-tree oil are the best natural remedies. Using bleach is not recommended because it causes dangerous chemical burns. You should persist with your home remedy for several months as the fungus can be hidden even though it appears to be gone. To ensure that the treatments are effective, clip your toenails properly and regularly. Remember -- this is not professional medical advice. Go to see a doctor if you think you have a fungus.

Use a foot-bath twice daily. Mix two parts of warm water to one of apple-cider vinegar. Soak your feet for 20 minutes and rinse them thoroughly before drying them. If your feet become irritated, dilute with more water. You might also want to use the foot-bath less frequently.

Tea-tree oil that is 100% pure is anti-fungal. After bathing and thoroughly drying the feet, paint the oil on the nails as well as the skin around them. Do this twice daily.

A popular approach is alternating between these natural remedies between one day and the next.

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